Twenty ‘large’ potholes and sunken drainage covers counted on Trumpington to Great Shelford section of Tour de France route

16/06/14 Pot holes on Tour de France route - Trumpington
16/06/14 Brian Robertson , says he has cycled the Tour de France route from Trumpington to Saffron Walden several times and has noticed 20 potholes before even leaving Great Shelford. He says they a

16/06/14 Pot holes on Tour de France route - Trumpington
16/06/14 Brian Robertson , says he has cycled the Tour de France route from Trumpington to Saffron Walden several times and has noticed 20 potholes before even leaving Great Shelford. He says they a

16/06/14 Pot holes on Tour de France route - Trumpington
16/06/14 Brian Robertson , says he has cycled the Tour de France route from Trumpington to Saffron Walden several times and has noticed 20 potholes before even leaving Great Shelford. He says they a

Less than two weeks before the Tour de France arrives in the city, a cyclist has counted 20 “large” potholes and sunken drainage covers along one section of the route.

Brian Robertson, of Cambridge, says the state of the roads could cause a puncture, break a wheel or cause injury to riders.

“If any of the riders had an accident due to potholes it would be a national disgrace,” he said.

The world’s largest annual sporting event – with an estimated global TV audience of 3.5 billion people – will come to the city on July 7, after two stages in Yorkshire.

Mr Robertson, a 59-year-old software engineer and keen road cyclist, said: “I have cycled the route four times and I have counted 20 large potholes and sunken drainage covers between Trumpington and Great Shelford, it is very dangerous.

“After Great Shelford the route is relatively clear of potholes. But when I reached Saffron Walden the potholes are big enough to swallow a small child.

“I think what they have done is woefully inadaquate.”

A final report on Britain’s readiness to host the Tour de France concluded that “everything is on track”.

The report, published on Friday, June 13, said: “Everything is on track to deliver the biggest and best Grand Départ and start to the Tour de France ever in a safe and secure way.”

The readiness report covered issues like public awareness, detailing a survey carried out in Cambridgeshire which found 89 per cent of respondents knew the Tour was coming.

It said the race route had been secured by traffic regulation orders.

In Saffron Walden, repair work to potholes is due to start shortly after residents raised their concerns over the state of the roads – in particular the route into the town from Cambridge.

A spokesman for Essex County Council confirmed chiefs have pledged to repair the potholes along the High Street and George Street junction by the end of June.

But Mr Robertson is concerned time is running out in Cambridge.

He added: “Come on Cambridge: it’s only 20 holes, they should be filling these in now, not a week before the start. When they re-engineer a drainage cover sometimes the work doesn’t go well and they may have to re-do it. If they do it too close to the event it is a bit risky.

“The riders will be on extremely fast road bikes – they are built for speed. There is clearly a potential risk of injury or accident.”

The 59-year-old plans to watch the event in Cambridge with his family.

A county council spokesman said: “The organisers of the Tour de France have recently ridden the route of the race through Cambridgeshire and were happy with the state and condition of the roads.

“Obviously we will continue to monitor the roads ahead of the July 7 in case an issue develops which we would need to deal with.”

As previously reported in the News, the Tour’s visit will trigger widespread road closures in central Cambridge, with roads around the start line by Parker’s Piece shutting at 5.30pm on July 6.

The route and many connecting routes will shut at 4am on July 7, with the route south of the city, including Trumpington Road and the A1301, closing from 7am.

Roads will start to reopen from 3pm, with central routes expected to remain shut until 6pm.

Thirty seven schools in Cambridgeshire are planning to close, while no buses will be able to access the city centre. All services from the south will terminate at the train station, with those from the north stopping at Maids Causeway, Mitcham’s Corner or Queen’s Road.